Rip the Fence

A Special Holiday edition features Junior Knepper 55 winner Thomas Meseraull. He talks about life, racing and more. Plus Dillon and Tyler recap Gateway and get ready for the Chili Bowl!

Thank you so much to our listeners, the racers, the fans. This has been a great ride, never forget!

Kody Swanson is the winningest driver in Silver Crown Series history, Swanson breaks news on this episode about his future, plus chats about the busy weekend in Indy for USAC and Indy Car. 

Shane Cottle won at Selinsgrove in the USAC Silver Crown Series and Tyler Courtney won two races during Eastern Midget Week with USAC.

Chase Stockon won the 2020 USAC Nos Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week Title, his first of his career. Chris Wilner sits in for Dillon Welch who joins the show from Pennsylvania during Eastern Midget Week.

Blake Anderson, the voice of the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions, joins Tyler and Dillon this week on Rip the Fence.

Dillon and Tyler go through the Indiana Sprint Week Pool and make their picks. They recap Mid-America Midget Week and look ahead to one of the best weeks in sprint car racing.

Finally, 100 Episodes. The boys celebrate by talking to the great Jack Hewitt and Cornbelt Nationals Winner at Knoxville Brady Bacon.

Kendra Jacobs is the Director of Marketing for Knoxville Raceway, and discusses the decision to cancel the Knoxville Nationals, plus preview the upcoming Corn Belt Nationals featuring the USAC Sprint Cars.

Kendra Jacobs, Director of Marketing for Knoxville Raceway, joins Dillon and Tyler this week on Rip the Fence.

Kaylee Bryson is racing for Keith Kunz Motorsports in both USAC and POWRi Midget Series in 2020. Bryson is an Oklahoma micro racer who has just hit the national open wheel scene. Dillon and Tyler are back in studio for 98.

Kaylee Bryson is racing for Keith Kunz Motorsports in both USAC and POWRi Midget Series in 2020. Bryson is an Oklahoma micro racer who has just hit the national open wheel scene.

Kyle Larson has been red hot, winning in everything he sits in, Including Outlaw, Allstar and USAC Midget Races. Larson won the 2020 USAC Indiana Midget Week title and joins Dillon and Tyler on Epsiode 97.

Stephen Schnapf earns first career USAC Sprint Car win at Tri State Speedway. Hear about his journey, plus reaction to Larson’s continued dominance on 96.

Robert Ballou is back after returning from an injury last June at the Kokomo Speedway. Over the weekend he had a podium in Iowa with the USAC National Sprint Car Series and has been doing some wing racing in PA. Ballou is one if sprint car racing’s greatest characters and joins Dillon and Tyler on 95.

Justin Grant competes in all three of USAC's National Series, and is vying for both the Sprint Car and Silver Crown Titles. Grant won at Port City Raceway in Oklahoma and is prepping to head to Iowa with the Sprint Cars.

Tyler Courtney is a two-time USAC Champion, and won at Port City Raceway with the National Midget Series this past week in USAC’s first race since the Covid-19 pandemic. Courtney also announced this week that he will drive a NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoor Truck at the Eldora Dirt Derby on July 30th with Clauson Marshall Racing and Niece Motorsports. He chats with Dillon and Tyler about all of that and more on Episode 93.

Amber Balcaen is a Canadian driver who grew up cutting her teeth at the dirt tracks in The northern region of the United States and her home country. Balcaen made the move to Charlotte to pursue her stock car dream, but recently has announced she will go back to dirt racing and will compete with Flea Ruzic and Team Ripper in a National Midget.

Zeb Wise is an open wheel driver from Indiana who has competed in the USAC National Midget Series and now competes full-time in a 410 winged sprint car with the All-Stars. Wise left Clauson Marshall Racing before the 2020 Chili Bowl and drove for Keith Kunz Motorsports. He drives for Sam McGhee Motorsports sprint car program.

Daison Pursley is a 15 year old USAC and Powri National Midget driver for Keith Kunz Motorsports. Pursley has won multiple iRacing events during the Pandemic including Wednesday’s Virtual Chili Bowl.

Sean Buckley also known as Jackslash is credited with creating the famous open wheel site Jackslash.tv and helping launch USAC’s PPV platform via Flo Racing. Buckley has travelled all over the country shooting video for many different races and joins Dillon and Tyler on Episode 89.

Jason McCord is a 6 time USAC Sprint Car Winner and has a solo Silver Crown win. He currently is the Race Director for POWRi and a former series director for USAC. McCord joins the boys to look back at his career and give an update on the POWRi season.

Flea Ruzic is one of dirt racing’s brightest minds. Fielding midgets cars in both USAC and Powri, Flea is an innovative chassis builder with Ripper Chassis. In episode 87, Flea shows the boys around his shop and some of the projects he’s working on.

Andrew Layser is a USAC National Midget Series driver for Tucker Boat Motorsports and is schedule to compete in USACs East Coast Sprint Car Series. Layser has been iRacing during the downtime and joined Dillon and Tyler on Zoom Video Conference.

The boys use Zoom Video Conference to chat with their friend, Logan Seavey who is competing for the USAC National Sprint car Title this season. Logan has been competing on Iracing during the downtime and even won a World of Outlaws sanctioned event.

Richie Murray is the public/media relations manager for the United States Auto Club. On Episode 84, Dillon and Tyler chat with Richie about the content USAC is generating during the downtime and his relationship with the late Dick Jordan.

Dan O Laycock is one of sprint car racing's most famous media members. DO worked in production with the ESPN's popular Thunder Series along with coverage of NASCAR and Indy Car. He conducted the famous Jack Hewitt KMD Interview and has many stories to tell on Episode 83.

Tanner Thorson has been red hot of out of the gates in the 2020 USAC National Midget Series. Winning at Ocala, and this past weekend in the Shamrock Classic at Duquoin. He joins Dillon and Tyler on Episode 82.

Michael "Buddy" Kofoid is a California sprint car driver, who cuts his teeth at the local tracks in Ohio, and was given the opportunity this season to compete for USAC National Midget title with Toyota and Keith Kunz Motorsports. Kofoid joins Dillon and Tyler in studio for 81.

Dave Sharpley is the owner of Sharp Advantage Safety Products. A Former Indy Car Chief Mechanic, Sharpley makes custom molds for seats and other safety racing products for sprint car and midget racing.

Terry Lingner was a Television Director and Producer for the popular ESPN Thunder Series. The Series put names like Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne and more on the radar of NASCAR Owners.

Jeff Gordon once was a young kid trying to make it to Indy through USAC Racing, he turned into one of NASCAR's greatest ever. He chats with Dillon and Tyler in Daytona.

Rollie Helmling is a former USAC Car owner that fielded cars for Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, John Andretti and more. Stevie Reeves, his former driver is in studio with Tyler and Dillon to chat with Rollie, who was also a former USAC President from 2002-2008. Video Version can be found on MRN.com and Rip the Fence Facebook.

Cup Series Driver Alex Bowman is in studio to talk about the Chili Bowl, hanging out with his boss Jeff Gordon, and more. He joins Dillon and Tyler to recap the Chili Bowl 2020.

You can watch this video on our facebook page or MRN.com. Rip the Fence Podcast is proud to kick off their third season with the Motor Racing Network, and the 75th episode is a big one, featuring the reigning three-time Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Champion Christopher Bell, with a special visit via phone from his NASCAR team owner Bob Leavine. Inside the episode Bell clears up his leave from New Zealand after a crash in a dirt midget, his departure from Keith Kunz Motorsports and why logistics played a massive role. C Bell also sticks around to interview his NASCAR Team owner who is flying out to Tulsa to witness his brand new driver on display before the two head to Daytona in February with eyes on the Harley J Earl Trophy.

Chase Briscoe, 2019 Pool Champ Blade Kearns aka Brock Landers, Dillon and Tyler discuss their Chili Bowl Pool Sheets.

Best of Season 2 Part 1 - Featuring Mnt Rushmore candidates Aj Foyt, Tony Stewart, Jack Hewitt, Kyle Larson. Christmas Edition - recorded before St. Louis and Chili Bowl.

The Final Episode of Season 2. We chat with Emmett Hahn Co-Founder and Co-Owner of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals (17:00) RTF also chats with Powri Champ Jesse Colwell (34:00) Red Brand Fence Hat Shakes (45:00) and USAC Race Director Kirk Spridgeon (49:30).

Tyler Courtney is the 2019 USAC National Midget Series Champion. Courtney drives for Clauson Marshall Racing. One year ago Sunshine won the 2018 USAC National Sprint Car Series Title.

Kyle Larson takes the richest pay day in Midget Series history, winning the Hangtown 100 at Placerville Speedway. Hear about his new midget team he created to chase the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, a race that has eluded him.

CJ Leary is the 2019 USAC National Sprint Car Champion, and Kody Swanson is the 2019 USAC Silver Crown Series Champ. Tyler and Dillon chat with the two title winners on Episode 70.

Matt Wood is promoting the Hangtown 100 USAC National Midget Series Race. Wood is also a team owner who has fielded both midets and sprint cars for drivers such as Bryan Clauson, Shane Golobic and more.

Dave Argabright is an award winning author and broadcaster in the sport of auto racing. Argabright has written books with Jack Hewitt, Jimmy Sills and Doug Wolfgang, and also writes for the monthly issued Sprint Car and Midget Magazine.

Jay Drake is a 2004 USAC National Sprint Car Champion, and the 2001 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Winner. Drake is a driver development coach for Keith Kunz Motorsports.

Gio Scelzi is a 17 year old from California who has competed with the Outlaws and the Allstars the past few years, winning some big races. Gio will finish out the remainder of the USAC National Midget Schedule with Tucker-Boat Motorsports and has aspirations to go stock car racing in NASCAR.

Jake Neuman won a Powri Midget Series race over the weekend at SIR driving for Flea Ruzic. Neuman is an up and coming midget driver who has won a handful of races this season with the Series.

Jimmy Sills is a Sprint Car Hall of Famer who earned Three USAC Silver Crown Championships. Sills was also a former Outlaw and up retirement appeared in select races with the alias "Luke Warmwater". He has a new book "Life with Luke" that was written by Dave Argabright. Stevie Reeves is also in studio.

Gene Nolen is a long-time car owner in USAC, and has fielded cars for some of the very best including Tony Elliott, Jerry Coons Jr, Tony Stewart and most recently Kody Swanson, who Nolen helped win his record 5th USAC Silver Crown Series championship.

Maria Cofer is a California Midget driver. She stops by the studio in North Carolina to talk about her racing career, farming and more.

Mel Kenyon is the "King of the Midgets" and has won over 390 features. Kenyon is a 7-time USAC National Midget Champion, and even had a successful sting in the Indy Car Series.

Levi Jones is a 7-time USAC Champ and is now the Competition Director for USAC. Jones is considered one of the greatest non-wing sprint car drivers of all-time.

Pancho Carter is one of USAC's greatest sprint car drivers ever. Known for being one of the best on the high backs, Carter turned to Indy Car later in his career. Pancho is now a spotter in the Indy Car Series.

Tyler "Rizzy" Ransbottom, is the 2018 Crew Chief of the year for Clauson Marshall Racing. Rizzy has recently won the 8th annual Kokomo Smackdown with Tyler Courtney, and has multiple USAC wins on the year in both the midget and sprint car divisions.

Kyle Cummins is a sprint car driver from Princeton, Indiana. He won two features during Indiana Sprint Week and has his sights set on winning this weekend's Kokomo Sprint Car Smackdown.

RT56 is dedicated to the memory of USAC Public Relations Director Dick Jordan. USAC's longest tenured employee, Jordan epitomized what it meant to be a race fan. Long time friend and historian Pat Sullivan joins us to celebrate DJ's life. Also on 56, hear an interview with Kevin Briscoe, a great sprint car driver and also Chase Briscoe's Dad.

Bob East, racing mechanic and Chassis Builder at Beast Chassis. East has worked with names like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and more.

...and Kevin Olson. AJ Foyt is one of the greatest race car drivers ever, Kevin Olson is one of the funniest. Hear Foyt talk about his sprint car and indy car career, hear Olson talk about his latest win at Angell Park.

Tony Stewart is one of the greatest drivers of all time. USAC Triple Crown Winner, NASCAR and Indy Car Champ. Dillon Welch chats with the Indiana driver who went from go kart racer to star throughout his career.

Kyle Larson's rise to stardom began in the USAC National Midget Series with Keith Kunz Motorsports. In 2011 Larson won some of the biggest races in dirt track racing and his career took off from there. Today his talents are on full display in the NASCAR Cup Series and you can often times find him winning a midget or sprint car race.

Paul Hazen is an Indiana Sprint Car Legend, owning cars since 1957 and winning championships all over the Midwest with some of the best ever, including Jon Stanbrough, Tony Elliott, Shane Cottle and now Clinton Boyles.

Jerry Coons Jr is a USAC Triple Crown Winner who currently drives in the USAC Midget Series for Petry Motorsports. Coons talks about his career and tells stories from years past.

Winchester win for the Indiana farmer Caleb Armstrong a dream come true. Hear Armstrong's story on RTF49.

Buckwalter was three turns away from winning the Silver Crown Race at the Williams Grove Speedway on Friday. Steve Phillips has owned sprint cars for years and won races with Dave Darland, Casey Shuman Jerry Coons Jr and now Jason McDougal. J-Mac won in Pennsylvania with the USAC Sprint Cars.

Michael Dutcher is a Mechanic and Sprint Car Owner based in Indy. Dutch has won the USAC National Championship with Bryan Clauson and has recently teamed up with Kevin Thomas Jr to compete for the USAC National Title. The two worked together and had success in 2013.

An Original Outlaw, Brad Doty's driving career was cut short way too soon. Doty battled back to become one of sprint car racing's best broadcasters.

The holy grail of Motorsports interviews, Kevin Briscoe and his son Chase Briscoe and host Tyler Burnett interview the Legendary, Jack Hewitt. Jacob Seelman of Speedsport stops by.

Rick Ferkel is an original outlaw, who not only is one of the greatest sprint cars drivers ever, but also a car owner that has fielded rides for some of the best, including Christopher Bell who helps interview Ferkel in Episode 44. Kendra Jacobs also stops by to talk about Knoxville Raceway.

Sleepy Tripp, one of the best USAC Midget racers of all-time chats with Tyler Burnett and Stevie Reeves about his tremendous career and more.

Bobby Santos II is an open-wheel standout from the Northeast who has competed in everything from Silver Crown Cars and Midgets to Open Wheel Modifieds and more.

Flea Ruzic is a Mechanic and Lead Chassis Builder for Boss Chassis. Jason Mcdougal drives the team's USAC/Powri Midget. Flea is very innovative when it comes to chassis building and is a true racer.

Bob Jenkins is one of the most iconic voices in racing, and has called some of the biggest races in the history of the sport. Episode 40 allows us to reflect on his racing career that continues today with IMS.

Tom Bigelow is one of USAC's greatest sprint car drivers, he chats with Dillon and Tyler about his career, that consisted of 9 Indy 500 starts, a USAC Sprint Car and Midget Championship.

Tanner Thorson, 2016 USAC National Midget Champ recovers from a horrific traffic crash a month ago, the boys chat with him, plus Chase Briscoe pops by the studio for a surprise visit.

Robin Miller is one of Open Wheel Racing's most established beat reporters. A former racer, Robin grew up and covered the era where sprint car drivers were constantly making it to Indy. We discuss that and more.

Shane Hmiel tells his story. Plus Dillon and Tyler react to racing over the weekend and give their top 5 snack chips of all-time.

The boys chat with broadcaster Dave Despain, who starred in the popular Thursday/Saturday Night Thunder Series in the 90's and hosted his own racing talk show "WindTunnel". Despain also worked for MRN, and various other racing outlets.

Cannon McIntosh captures career win number one with USAC, hear about his heroic night in the Shamrock Classic, plus D Welch and Tyler recap the weekend and debate their athleticism.

Karysn Elledge, Dale Earnhardt Sr's granddaughter, looks to become an open wheel star. Lauren Stewart stops by to talk about her new career, her relationship with the late great Bryan Clauson and the upcoming race she is promoting.

Tracy Hines is a USAC Triple Crown winner who now works in management at a NASCAR Truck Series Team in Thorsport Racing. Jeff Gluck is a NASCAR Beat Writer who is new to dirt racing. They join Dillon and Tyler on #RTF32.

USAC National Sprint Car Series driver Chase Stockon stops by on RTF31, talking about life, racing and more.

Tyler and Dillon talk to Cole Bodine.

Tyler and Dillon sit down with Chili Bowl winner Christopher Bell.

It's the BIG Night as host Dillon Welch gets ready to race while Tyler Burnett, Steve Post and Hannah Newhouse hold down the show, Live at the 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, OK. Recorded Saturday, Jan 19th, 2019.

It is Night # 2 as Tyler Burnett, Dillon Welch, Steve Post and Hannah Newhouse are live at the 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, OK., talking to drivers and fans about tonight's festivities - recorded Friday, Jan 18th, 2019.

Tyler Burnett, Dillon Welch, Steve Post and Hannah Newhouse are live at the 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, OK., talking to drivers and fans about tonight's festivities - recorded Thursday, Jan 17th, 2019.

2016 Chili Bowl Pool Champ Chase Briscoe, and 'Cheat Sheet' expert Kevin J Holley make their Chili Bowl Pool Picks with RTF's Tyler Burnett ahead of the 2019 Chili Bowl.

Steve Post, Tyler Burnett and 2018 Chili Bowl champ Christopher Bell are joined by Emmett Hahn and Dillion Welch to talk about this years Chili Bowl.

Tyler and Dillon look back at their best of 2018.

The owner of Keith Kunz Motorsports is on the final show of 2018. He's developed some of the greatest talents this sport has ever seen, including Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell.

The 7-time New Zealand Champ Michael Pickens calls in from the other side of the pond, plus Dillon and Tyler discuss rules changes at USAC and Justin Grant switching rides in the Midget Series.

USAC National Sprint Car Champ Tyler Courtney and USAC CRA Champ Damoin Gardner are featured on Episode 24 along with Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles to talk about the new IMS Museum project "Hoosier Thunder".

1993 USAC Silver Crown Champ stops by for Episode 23 to tell some stories and look back on his racing career. Tyler Burnett and Dillon Welch also recap Western World and Millbridge along with previewing the Oval Nationals.

Winged Nation's Steve Post and Rip the Fence Tyler Burnett and Dillon Welch chat with Keith Kunz, Karsyn Elledge, USAC National Midget Point Leader Logan Seavey and more ahead of the biggest Mini-Outlaw race in the Country.

Episode 22 features one of the most interesting drivers USAC fans have ever witnessed. Kevin Olson is a two time USAC Midget Champ and a Five-Time Badger Midget National Champion. He joins Dillon Welch, Tyler Burnett and Stevie Reeves to tell stories.

Steve Lewis is one of the greatest car owners in USAC history, his drivers are some of the most decorated ever. He joins Dillon Welch, Tyler Burnett and guest host Stevie Reeves on Episode 21 to discuss his success as a car owner.

Robert Bell is a working man's sprint car racer from Colfax Iowa. Dubbed the Colfax Comet, Bell can be seen working on his 12 year old race car, and driving up and down the road with his open trailer. He's also one of the greatest characters in sprint car racing.

He won two USAC Midget Championships, took his talents to Charlotte, and now he's a championship spotter in NASCAR. Steve Reeves is in studio with Dillon Welch and Tyler Burnett for Episode 19.

Jam packed episode 18, Justin Grant scores two USAC wins over the weekend, Chase Briscoe stops by after his first Xfinity Series win and Chris Dyson, Sports Car Racer talks about his adventure into USAC Racing.

CJ Leary wins a wild Siver Crown Series race at Eldora, while Isaac Chapple earns his first podium with USAC.

2015 USAC National sprint car champ Robert Ballou joins Episode 16. Plus Ross Wece from Wece's Pieces and Open Red joins us.

USAC Race Director Kirk Spridgeon recaps the BC39 that took place in the IMS infield. Also hear from BC39 Winner Brady Bacon.

Oklahoma's Tyler Thomas conquers Kokomo for his first USAC National Sprint Car series win. Plus Tyler and Dillon chat with him about being a pepper farmer.

Indiana Sprint Car Legend Jon Stanbrough steps away from driving duties. A conversation with the "Bro Show" on Episode 13 of Rip the Fence!

He's fielded cars for some of the best ever, Jack Hewitt, Jac Haudenschild, Greg Wilson, Chad Kemenah, Rick Kauffman, Rick Ferkel and now Kody Swanson. On Saturday Swanson became the winningest Silver Crown Driver in USAC History. Hear stories from Hampshire about all of the greats on Episode 12 of Rip the Fence.

Zeb Wise becomes the youngest USAC National Midget Series Winner in history and Chad Boat makes it two USAC Midget wins in 2018 at BAPS Motor Speedway. All that and more on Episode 11 of Rip the Fence.

Dave Darland stretches is USAC Sprint Car Record with two wins during Indiana Sprint Week and AJ Hopkins has won 5 features at Putnamaville. Episode 10 features conversations with both, along with hat shakes and a double dose of Dillon Welch story time.

Brady Bacon leads Indiana Sprint Week Points after a win at Plymouth. And Jason Mcdougal continues to make a name for himself in Indiana racing Midgets and Sprint Cars.

Dillon Welch and Tyler Burnett discuss their picks for Lonnie Wheatley's 2018 ISW Pool.

Dillon and Tyler are at Eldora Speedway for Episode 8 of Rip the Fence. 1999 Silver Crown Champ and NASCAR Star Ryan Newman stops by along with Chase Briscoe.

JJ Yeley is one of two men who won a USAC Triple Crown in the same season (2003), the other was Tony Stewart. Today we talk about Yeley's spectacular USAC career, catch up with the Champ and see what's going on in his life now.

What happened to one of the most promising young talents in USAC? Coleman Gulick shares his story about putting his professional racing career on hold, and the return. Plus, Pat Sullivan, Dave Argabright and John Mahoney wrote a new book about the history of USAC Sprint Car Racing. Pat Sullivan previews that and tells stories about some of USAC's greatest drivers.

On Episode 5 of Rip the Fence, USAC Director of Competition and 7 Time National Champ Levi Jones gives the details on the BC39 taking place at IMS. Also, conversation with 2-time USAC Champ Ken Schrader.

Chris Windom heats up during USAC Eastern Storm, plus Clinton Boyles wins three in a row at Gas City for Indiana Legend Paul Hazen.

Tim Clauson stops by to talk about BC's Induction into Hall of Fame and Tyler Courtney's Knoxville Win. Plus Logan Seavey wins the Powri Illinios Speed Week.

Spencer Bayston wins the Indiana Midget Week Title after a crazy race at Kokomo...Plus Kevin Thomas Jr is virtually unbeatable in the sprint car in Indiana. Wrecked Pace Cars, Concession stand food and a whole lot more on Episode 2 of Rip the Fence.

In the first episode of Rip the Fence, Kody Swanson talks about winning 3 big races on Memorial Day Weekend, and Tyler Courtney wins the Tony Hulman Classic.